Harlan Ellison Drops His Lawsuit Against 'In Time'

What a difference a few months -- and a so-so box-office showing -- make. Sci-fi author Harlan Ellison has dropped his lawsuit seeking credit for 'In Time.' A reason isn't given, although he made the decision after seeing the film, which stars Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. The movie earned just $35 million in the U.S. and racked up a less-than-impressive 38 percent positive critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The author claimed that the 20th Century Fox film was based on his prize-winning 1965 work, 'Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman,' which had the same futuristic "time is money" theme.

Ellison's previous lawsuits include one against 'The Terminator,' which he claimed was based on two episodes of 'The Outer Limits' that he had penned. He was eventually given a screen credit, although that didn't sit well with 'Terminator' director James Cameron.